India hit back at Pakistan at the United Nations on Friday, calling it an “army run” and “puppet” regime and accusing Islamabad of spreading “falsehoods” and “deceit”.
India exercised its Right of Reply at the UN General Assembly after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raised the Kashmir issue during his address and credited US President Donald Trump with a “timely intervention” during the 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan. Sharif spoke at the 81st UN General Assembly.
India Warns Pakistan ‘Over Terrorism’
Petal Gahlot, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, said Pakistan’s comments on democracy and human rights were “hypocritical homilies”.
She alleged that Pakistan was controlled by its military and referred to the country’s 27th Constitutional Amendment and the legal protections given to its military leadership.
“Their puppets may come and go but let us have no illusion who calls the shots,” Gahlot said.
She also accused Pakistan of repeatedly using the UN platform to spread what India considers false claims.
“Reiterating falsehoods year after year does not make them true. Pakistan’s terrorism, deceit and duplicity will neither benefit it nor the world,” she said.
India also warned that continued cross border terrorism would have consequences.
“Our right to defend ourselves against terrorism will be exercised. And continued terrorism by Pakistan will have consequences,” Gahlot said.
India Rejects Trump’s Role in 2025 Conflict
Sharif thanked Trump during his UN speech for what he described as “resolute and visionary leadership”, saying the US president’s intervention had helped prevent further escalation between India and Pakistan.
India has previously rejected the claim that Trump played a role in brokering a ceasefire or stopping the conflict.
India referred to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, and its subsequent military response, Operation Sindoor. New Delhi has maintained that the operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
India Rejects Pakistan’s Kashmir Remarks
Sharif also raised the Kashmir issue during his UN address, calling for a “just and fair solution” to prevent another conflict between the two countries.
Responding to him, Gahlot reiterated India’s position that Jammu and Kashmir is an “integral and inalienable part” of India.
She instead raised the situation in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir and referred to protests and allegations of violence there.
“If we must talk about Kashmir, let us turn our attention to the Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” Gahlot said.
India Raises Osama Bin Laden’s Presence in Pakistan
Gahlot also referred to the presence of al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.
She said Sharif’s remarks came shortly after the world marked the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
“This context is important to keep in mind because its mastermind, Osama Bin Laden, was living right on the doorstep of the Pakistani Army’s premier academy,” she said.
Bin Laden was killed by US forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011.
India Criticises Pakistan Over Minority Rights
Gahlot also responded to Sharif’s remarks on religious tolerance, accusing Pakistan of having a poor record on minority rights.
“This Assembly was subjected to remarks about religious intolerance from the very regime whose mainstay is blasphemy laws. The world knows how minorities are treated in Pakistan,” she said.
